September 24, 2007
Ready to go?
It was a most unusual pre-election speech. For the first time I can remember, a party leader addressed his annual conference without even bothering to attack or mock any of his political rivals.
This was Gordon Brown in full "new politics" mode. Since he governs for the whole country, there is no need to even acknowledge the existence of other parties. Neither David Cameron nor the Conservatives (let alone the Liberal Democrats) were mentioned in his Bournemouth speech.
But make no mistake, Mr Brown and his party are ready for an early poll. His discourse on rising aspiration in Britain covered all the ground on which he expects to be fighting an election - health, education, crime.
It was a personal speech, setting out his commitment to public services and "personalising" them for the 21st century. And it was the speech of a politician who looks comfortable in his own skin: the angst of the Brown-Blair feud is now in the past.
His allies say that if there is not an election this autumn, the country will be given their say by the spring of 2008 at the latest. And if you needed any further confirmation, the soundtrack booming out of the Bournemouth PA before Mr Brown’s arrival said it all: Republica’s "Ready to Go".
